CHS hosts cross country invitational

Clovis High cross country coach Mark Bussen would like to see his teams ready to go for today’s Clovis Invitational at Ned Houk Park.

To that end, he cut back on workouts this week for the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats.

“I’ve rested the kids a little,” Bussen said. “We’ve been working hard for about six weeks this season without much of a break.”

Four other schools are expected to participate in the event — Bovina, Hobbs, Tucumcari and Liberal, Kan.

Liberal’s coach, Kelly Cook, was an assistant under Bussen at CHS from 1998-2000.

Bussen said the Lady Cats should have a competitive event with Hobbs and Liberal. He noted the Lady Redskins have won both meets they’ve entered so far this season.

It could be the same three schools competing for the boys title, he said.

“I think Liberal, Hobbs and us are all pretty close,” Bussen said.

Originally, the field was to have included regular invitational participants Hereford, Canyon and Amarillo High. All were verbally committed, Bussen said, but backed out after next week’s Lubbock Invitational was moved back a week to Sept. 30.

The day’s activities begin with an “open” two-mile run at 10:30 a.m. Bussen said anyone is welcome to run, and their is no entry fee.

“We’re going to try this and see what happens,” he said.

The varsity girls race is scheduled for 11 a.m., followed at half-hour intervals by varsity boys, junior varsity girls and JV boys. All of the high school events are three miles.